Well, last week in level 4 and 5 classes, we discussed the use of Present Perfect. I found this great resource in the Internet and wanted to share it with you so you can have a better understanding of what this grammar point means. So, let's get started:

You have seen that movie many times.Have you seen that movie many times?You have not seen that movie many times.We can use present perfect to talk about unspecified Time Before Now.We use it to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.

You CANNOTuse the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc.

We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.Examples:

I have seen that movie twenty times.I think I have met him once before.There have been many earthquakes in California.

We use Present perfect to describe your experienceYou can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples:

I have been to France.This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.

I have been to France three times.You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.

I have never been to France.This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.

I think I have seen that movie before.He has never traveled by train.Joan has studied two foreign languages.A: Have you ever met him?B: No, I have not met him.

We use Present perfect to describe change over timeWe often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Examples:

You have grown since the last time I saw you.The government has become more interested in arts education.Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

We use Present perfect to describe accomplishmentsWe often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Examples:

Man has walked on the Moon.Our son has learned how to read.Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.Scientists have split the atom.

We use Present perfect to describe an uncompleted action you are expectingWe often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Examples:

James has not finished his homework yet.Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.Bill has still not arrived.The rain hasn't stopped.

We use Present perfect to describe multiple actions at different timesWe also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.

Examples:

The army has attacked that city five times.I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.We have had many major problems while working on this project.She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica On line, today the world celebrates the creation of Amnesty International, which is an international organization headquartered in London that seeks to inform public opinion about violations of human rights, especially the abridgments of freedom of speech and of religion and the imprisonment and torture of political dissidents, and which actively seeks the release of political prisoners and the relief, when necessary, of their families. In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

The organization was founded in London on May 28, 1961, through the principal efforts of Peter Benenson, who had been a defense lawyer for political prisoners in Hungary, South Africa, and Spain and who sought to establish a collective agency for the advancement of human rights.

In the 2007 Nickelback song, If Everyone Cared, Benenson's story about the start of Amnesty International is told, along with other Freedom Fighters of the century.It was announced that 100% of all digital sales for the song will be donated to the charities of Amnesty International, and the International Children's Awareness Canada.[1] This ties into the theme of the song and video of caring about something to work towards the improvement of human civilization.

From underneath the trees, we watch the skyConfusing stars for satellitesI never dreamed that you'd be mineBut here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I, I'm aliveSinging Amen, I, I'm alive

[Chorus:]If everyone cared and nobody criedIf everyone loved and nobody liedIf everyone shared and swallowed their prideThen we'd see the day when nobody died

And I'm singing

Amen I, Amen I, I'm aliveAmen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the firefliesOur only light in paradiseWe'll show the world they were wrongAnd teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen, I, I'm aliveSinging Amen, I, I'm alive(I'm alive)

[Chorus x2]

And as we lie beneath the starsWe realize how small we areIf they could love like you and meImagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody criedIf everyone loved and nobody liedIf everyone shared and swallowed their prideThen we'd see the day when nobody diedWhen nobody died...

[Chorus]

We'd see the day, we'd see the dayWhen nobody diedWe'd see the day, we'd see the dayWhen nobody diedWe'd see the day when nobody died

Song meaning

The song discusses a very strong relationship between two people, who are always honest, supporting, and caring of each other. The chorus then describes the need for love and how the world would be better off if everyone cared for each other.

This one of their video promoting human rights respect. It is about the power of the signature.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Level 2!!! let's practice what we learned last class. According to About.com:

IN: Use 'in' months and years and periods of time:

in January

in 1978

in the twenties

also, use 'in' a period of time in the future:

in a few weeks

in a couple of days

AT: Use 'at' with precise time:

at six o'clock

at 10.30

at two p.m.

ON: Use 'on' with days of the week:

on Monday

on Fridays

also, use 'on' with specific calendar days:

on Christmas day

on October 22nd

IMPORTANT NOTES

in the morning / afternoon / evening - at night

We say in the morning, afternoon or evening BUT we say 'at night'

Go to About.com English as a second language to see the quiz. There are 15 questions in this quiz. Try to use only 10 seconds per question. At the end of the quiz, you will receive quiz feedback. Let me know how you did in the test by forwarding your results to me...

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Something to think about!

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."

Mahatma Gandhi

"I write entirely to find out what I am thinking, what I am looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear"Joan Didion